The University of Alabama is the latest public college system to do away with its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, following the passage of a new law barring public institutions in the state from pushing “divisive concepts” that encourage discrimination based on traits like race or sex.
UA campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville all pulled the plug on their respective DEI programs on Tuesday to ensure compliance with the law, which also requires public universities in the state to designate bathrooms based solely on biological sex.
Under Senate Bill 129 — signed into law by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and taking effect Oct. 1 — certain government entities and public institutions are forbidden from implementing any form of DEI programming or operating any offices under its banner.
The law prohibits “the promotion, endorsement and affirmation” of what it calls “divisive concepts” in public settings, as well as outlines penalties for violations.
Some of the divisive concepts outlined by SB129 include:
- That any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin is inherently superior or inferior.
- That individuals should be discriminated against or treated adversely because of their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.
- That the moral character of an individual is determined by his or her race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.
- That any individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive — subconsciously or consciously — based on their race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.
It also bans any requirement to accept guilt, blame or a need to apologize on the basis of those same innate characteristics, and forbids promoting the idea that meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are rooted in racism or sexism.
SB129 empowers state agencies including local boards of education and public colleges or universities to “discipline or terminate the employment” of any employee who violates the law, subject to the usual legal rigors involved in firing a state employee.
“My Administration has and will continue to value Alabama’s rich diversity,” Ivey said in a statement after signing the bill into law in March.
“However, I refuse to allow a few bad actors on college campuses — or wherever else for that matter — to go under the acronym of DEI, using taxpayer funds, to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe.”
Alabama isn’t the first state to legislate against DEI initiatives, which critics say deepen political divides and promote a left-wing political agenda.
In March, the University of Florida closed its diversity office and fired 13 full-time staffers to comply with a 2023 statute that became law in January which prohibits the university from directing any public funds to support DEI initiatives.
The $5 million UF had allocated to spend on DEI was instead redistributed to faculty recruitment, the university said in a statement.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, long a vocal opponent of “woke” policies that either punish or elevate people based on race or sex, cheered the announcement in a post on X, saying “Florida is where DEI goes to die.”
In April, the University of Texas at Austin laid off dozens of employees who worked in the school’s DEI programs, announcing it would dissolve its Division of Campus and Community Engagement and transfer its former budget to other departments.
The move followed the passage of a new law that took effect Jan. 1 which effectively forbids DEI institutions at public colleges and universities statewide.
University of Alabama employees who previously worked in its DEI offices will not be fired, according to local outlet WHNT. Instead, they will be shuffled elsewhere, such as UA Huntsville’s newly announced Office of Access, Connections, and Engagement.
A statement on the UAH website says the new office will “accelerate recruiting and retention strategies and to provide enhanced support to all students.”
A spokesperson from the UA Division of Strategic Communications did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
